Integrated compact textile carding apparatus frame

Abstract

A compact textile carding frame and apparatus is disclosed which includes a carding machine (A) having a frame (D) which supports the carding machine in a self-standing manner with vertical carding cylinders. Cantilevered support arms (114, 116) carry the fiber feed and doffing devices. A fiber feed chute (C) is carried on a chute frame (E) having longitudinal members (130, 130a) which telescope into horizontal tracks (72, 72a) of carding frame (D). The precise working position of feed chute (C) and carding machine (A) may be fixed by their relative horizontal spacing. A coiler (B) is carried on a coiler frame (F) which pivots about a pivot (176) in and out of a precise working position with carding machine (A). An alignment and locking member (194) aligns the coiler upon return pivotal movement into the working position. The chute feed and coiler may be moved away from the carding machine and returned to their working positions while remaining connected permitting free access to both working sides of the carding machine and the associated chute feed and coiler.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Textile carding apparatus of the type which includes a carding machine having a first carding cylinder assembly and a second carding cylinder assembly with respective first and second clothed carding cylinders arranged in fiber transfer relation, carding means carried about the carding cylinders for subjecting fibers on said cylinders to a carding action; fiber feed means for feeding fibers to a first of said cylinders; fiber doffing means for doffing fibers from a second of said cylinders and forming a web; means for condensing the web into a sliver, and a textile coiler having a coiler can in which said sliver is deposited; wherein said apparatus includes integrated frame apparatus which comprises: (a) carding frame means including a card frame for carrying said first and second carding cylinders in a generally upstanding arrangement one above the other;   (b) a chute frame for carrying said fiber feed chute in a fiber supply relation to said fiber feed means of said carding machine;   (c) coiler frame means for carrying said coiler in alignment with said carding machine for depositing said sliver in a coiler can;   (d) chute connecting means connecting said chute frame to said carding frame in a movable manner so that said chute frame and feed chute may be moved away from said carding machine while remaining connected to said carding frame means for access to a first side of said carding machine; and   (e) coiler connecting means connecting said coiler frame means to said carding frame means in an aligned movable manner so that said coiler may be moved away from said carding machine while remaining connected to said carding machine to permit access to a second opposite side of said carding machine and coiler, and may be returned to an aligned position where said coiler is in alignment for receiving and depositing sliver from said carding machine.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said chute connecting means includes track means for slidably connecting said chute frame and carding frame means together for relative horizontal movement. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said track means includes horizontal track means carried by said carding frame means and said chute frame comprises longitudinal members which move in guiding relation with said horizontal track means during movement of said chute feed. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said chute frame comprises adjustable chute rollers carried adjacent a backside of said chute frame having an extended position for moving said feed chute and a retracted position for positioning said chute frame on a frame rest. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said frame rest includes a plurality of foot rests for supporting said chute frame when said rollers are in said retracted position. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said chute connecting means includes horizontal track means inter-connecting said chute frame and said carding frame means facilitating said horizontal movement. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6 including lock means for locking said chute frame in a desired horizontal position relative to said carding frame means in working relationship with said carding machine. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coiler connecting means includes pivot means connecting said coiler frame means and said carding frame means so that said coiler frame means and coiler may be moved away from said carding apparatus in a pivotal movement anchored and guided by said carding frame means. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said coiler frame means comprises a coiler base plate and carries vertically adjustable coiler roller means which may be extended through said base plate to provide rolling of said coiler frame means and having a retracted position at which said coiler frame means is supported on a base rest. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 8 including alignment means for guiding said coiler frame means during pivotal movement and locking said coiler in said aligned position. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carding frame means comprises: a base;   a plurality of standards carrying said first carding cylinder on said base; and   mounting means supporting said second carding cylinder on said first carding cylinder in a manner that said base means provides a generally self-standing support for said first and second carding cylinders.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 11 including a pair of first support arms carried by said first cylinder assembly for supporting said fiber feed means. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 12 including a pair of second support arms carried by said second cylinder assembly for supporting said fiber doffing means. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said first carding cylinder is carried below said second carding cylinder. 
     
     
       15. Textile carding apparatus of the type which includes a carding machine having a first carding cylinder assembly and a second carding cylinder assembly with respective first and second clothed carding cylinders arranged in fiber transfer relation, carding means carried about the carding cylinders for subjecting fibers on said cylinders to a carding action; fiber feed means for feeding fibers to a first of said cylinders; fiber doffing means for doffing fibers from a second of said cylinders and forming a web; means for condensing the web into a sliver, and a textile coiler having a coiler can in which said sliver is deposited; wherein said apparatus comprises: (a) base means for supporting said first and second carding cylinder assemblies in a generally upstanding arrangement in a self-standing manner;   (b) said first carding cylinder being rotatably carried by said base means;   (c) mounting means for carrying said second carding cylinder assembly generally above said first carding cylinder assembly;   (d) first support arm means carried by one of said first and second cylinder assemblies for supporting a fiber feed means feeding fibers to said one cylinder assembly; and   (e) second support arm means carried by the other of said first and second cylinder assemblies for supporting a fiber doffing means for removing fibers from said other cylinder assembly.   
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said mounting means comprises means for mounting said second cylinder to move radially away from said first carding cylinder for yielding to the passage of a large lump between said first and second carding cylinders. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said mounting means comprises: (a) first plates rigidly affixed to said first cylinder assembly and second plates rigidly affixed to said second cylinder assembly;   (b) said first and second plates being carried for movement in said radial direction relative to each other; and   (c) yieldable attachment means for attaching said first plates to said second cylinder assembly and said second plates to said first cylinder assembly, which yield to radial forces from said lumps in such a manner to permit a limited relative movement in said radial direction between said cylinders of said first and second cylinder assemblies.   
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said mounting means includes: (a) a set means for setting a clearance between said first and second cylinder assemblies; and   (b) said set means preventing movement of said second cylinder assembly towards said first cylinder assembly once said clearance has been set while permitting said relative radial movement between said first and second plates to allow movement of said second cylinder assembly away from said first cylinder assembly.   
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 16 including lock means for locking said chute frame in a desired horizontal position relative to said carding frame so that said chute feed is in a working relationship with said carding machine. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said base means comprises a base having spaced sides; a pair of standards extending from said sides of said base upwardly and connected to said first cylinder assembly supporting said first and second cylinder assemblies in a self-standing manner. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said base means comprises forklift openings in which a forklift may be inserted for moving said base means. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 15 including girth beam bridging said second cylinder assembly for holding end shrouds of said second cylinder assembly together. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first support arm means comprises a pair of spaced cantilevered arms extending outwardly from said first cylinder assembly, and said second support arm means includes a pair of spaced cantilevered arms extending outwardly from said second carding cylinder assembly in a manner that said fiber feeding means and fiber doffing means are supported from said carding cylinder assemblies. 
     
     
       24. Textile carding apparatus of the type which includes a carding machine having at least one carding cylinder assembly with a clothed carding cylinder, carding means carried about the carding cylinder for subjecting fibers on said cylinders to a carding action; fiber feed means for feeding fibers to said cylinder; fiber doffing means for doffing fibers and forming a web; means for condensing the web into a sliver, and a textile coiler having a coiler can in which said sliver is deposited; wherein said apparatus includes integrated frame apparatus comprising: (a) a carding frame for carrying said carding cylinder assembly;   (b) a chute frame for carrying said fiber feed chute in a fiber supply relation to said fiber feed means of said carding machine; and   (c) chute connecting means connecting said chute frame to said carding frame in a movable manner so that said chute frame and feed chute may be moved away from said carding machine while remaining connected to said carding frame and returned to an operational position.   
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said chute connecting means includes track means for slidably connecting said chute frame and carding frame together for relative horizontal movement. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said track means includes horizontal track means carried by said carding frame and said chute frame comprises longitudinal members which move in guiding relation with said horizontal track means during movement of said chute feed. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said chute frame comprises adjustable chute rollers carried adjacent a backside of said chute frame having an extended position for moving said chute frame and a retracted position for positioning said chute frame on a frame rest. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said frame rest includes a plurality of adjustable foot rests for supporting said chute frame means when said rollers are in said retracted position. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 27 including roller drive means for driving said chute rollers in rotation. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said horizontal track includes hollow horizontal legs carried by said base means in which said telescoping longitudinal members of said chute frame are received. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said chute connecting means includes a horizontal track carried by said carding frame and telescoping horizontal legs carried by said chute frame received on said horizontal track. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said drive means comprises a common drive shaft affixed to said rollers having a drive end for being driven by a ratchet type wrench to manually rotate said chute rollers. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus of claim 24 including coiler frame means for carrying said coiler in a sliver depositing relation with said carding machine; and coiler connecting means connecting said coiler frame means to said carding frame means in a movable manner so that said coiler may be moved away from said carding machine while still connected to said carding machine to permit access to one side of said carding machine and said coiler. 
     
     
       34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said coiler connecting means includes pivot means connected to said coiler frame means and said carding frame means so that coiler may be moved away from said carding machine in a pivotal movement anchored by said carding frame means; and said coiler frame means comprises vertically adjustable roller means which may be extended to provide rolling of said coiler frame means and having a retracted position which said coiler frame means is supported on a base. 
     
     
       35. Textile carding apparatus of the type which includes a carding machine having a first carding cylinder assembly and a second carding cylinder assembly with respective first and second clothed carding cylinders arranged in fiber transfer relation, carding means carried about the carding cylinders for subjecting fibers on said cylinders to a carding action; fiber feed means for feeding fibers to a first of said cylinders; fiber doffing means for doffing fibers from a second of said cylinders and forming a web; means for condensing the web into a sliver, and a textile coiler having a coiler can in which said sliver is deposited; wherein said apparatus comprises: (a) carding frame means including a card frame for carrying said carding cylinder;   (b) coiler frame means for carrying said coiler in a sliver depositing relation with said carding machine; and   (c) coiler connecting means connecting said coiler frame means to said carding frame means in a movable manner so that said coiler may be moved away from said carding machine while remaining connected to said carding machine to permit access to one side of said carding machine and said coiler and return to an operational position.   
     
     
       36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said coiler connecting means includes pivot means connected to said coiler frame means and said carding frame means so that coiler may be moved away from said carding machine in a pivotal movement anchored by said carding frame means. 
     
     
       37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said coiler frame means comprises vertically adjustable roller means which may be extended to provide rolling of said coiler frame means and having a retracted position which said coiler frame means is supported on a base. 
     
     
       38. The apparatus of claim 36 including alignment means for guiding said coiler frame means during a return pivotal movement to an aligned working position in which said coiler and carding machine are accurately aligned for sliver delivery and depositing by said coiler. 
     
     
       39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said alignment means includes lock means for aligning and locking said coiler into said alignment working position.